Hosted by National Action Network’s president and founder the Rev. Al Sharpton, the annual Triumph Awards gala will honor six individuals for their ongoing work to promote racial justice. Civil rights leaders planned to toast the honorees at Lincoln Center in New York City.

“The Triumph Awards are a yearly opportunity to recognize and celebrate high-profile figure that are both successful leaders in their fields as well as staunch advocates for equality and justice,” Sharpton said. “These are people who can be celebrated, lifted up, and ultimately emulated in their work.

Starbucks hired Brewer in 2017 as group president and chief operating officer — the first woman and African-American to hold the post at the global coffee chain. NAN said it would present Brewer with its Corporate Executive of the Year Award for being a pioneering Black woman in the corporate sector.

Actors Terrence Howardand Jeffrey Wright were among the other slated award recipients. The star of hit TV show “Empire” will receive the Triumphant Entertainer of the Year Award.

NAN will also present the Chairman’s Award for Historic & Transformative Services in the Arts Award to Wright, a lead actor in the HBO series “Westworld.” Wright has worked in the international community to promoted tolerance for Ebola survivors and conflict-free gold mining in Sierra Leone.

“This year’s nominees exemplify the kind of service and activism that should be expected from public figures and officials,” Sharpton added. “In a news cycle dominated by Donald Trump and his bigoted, anti-civil rights administration, we at NAN are committed to highlighting people making real change and those that can shape public opinion to make it happen.”

1. Happy birthday!

Happy BDY @TheRevAl! Preaching since 4, ordained a few years later, ran a youth group by his teens, ran for Mayor, Senate, President & has successfully led over 110 chapters of @NationalAction all while hosting his own natl tv show & 3 radio shows! Blessed & honored 2 work w/him! pic.twitter.com/isabo5iBIX

[caption id="attachment_3829881" align="alignnone" width="805"] Source: Alberto Reyes/WENN.com / WENN[/caption]
The Rev. Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton Jr. was turning 64 years old on Wednesday, achieving a milestone within a lifetime filled with multiple other milestones that have been centered on fighting for the rights of Black people whose voices would otherwise go unheard. The world-renowned minister and civil rights and social justice activist has been in the business of making sure that Black lives matter for nearly 50 years.
Sharpton preached his first sermon in 1958 at the age of 4, before he could even read or write, according to CNN. From there he went on to found several social justice organizations, including the National Action Network, run for a variety of political offices including president of the United States and become one of the most prominent faces within the ongoing movement for Black lives.
https://twitter.com/NationalAction/status/1047443075101065217
Sharpton's involvement in high-profile cases involving African-Americans dates back to the infamous Bernard Goetz subway vigilante case when a white man shot several Black youths trying to rob him in New York City's subway in 1984. Since then, the Brooklyn native has been at the center of dozens of clear miscarriages of justice against Black people, including the killing of Eric Garner, who was choked to death by a New York City police officer for the nonviolent offense of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.
In honor of the good reverend's birthday, take a look at the below photo retrospective of Sharpton's much-needed lifetime of service to the Black community. Happy birthday!